Electric coupling.



T. R. BROWN,

ELECTRIC COUPLING.- 7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. I914.

' Patented Oct, 30, 191?.

, 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR T. R. BROWN.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

\ APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. 19M. 1,244,949. Patented Oct. 30,1917.

, 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- u l o I IJQJ I l I )I l": I X v F ii INVENTOR THOMAS 3. BROWN, OFSPARKILL,

PENNSYLVANIA.

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, or wrnmnnnnve,PENNSYLVANIA, A

ELECTRIC cont nue.

Specification of Letters Patent.

WESTINGHOUSE CORPORATION OF Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

Application filed April 10, 1914. Serial No. 830,999.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, THOMAS R. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sparkill, in the county of Rockland and State of New York,have invented new. and useful Improvements in Electric Couplings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coupling devices, and more particularly to acoupling for electrically connecting train, line circuits between thecars of a train.

The present invention has reference more particularly to an electrictrain line coupling of the type having a plurality of fixed contactsconnected to the train line circuits, a movable contact carrier,andvmeans for projecting said carrier to electrically connect thecorresponding fixed contacts of counterpart couplings.

According to the construction set forth in my prior application, SerialNo. 823,970,1iled March '11, 1.914, the'contact carrier is projected bymeans of a fluid operated piston and in order to permit the projectionof the contact carrier, the contact carrier of the coun terpart couplingis retracted. It will thus be seen that the contact carrier in operatingmoves in opposite directions from normal position and in order toaccommodate this movement, the operating piston normally rests in anintermediate position in the piston cylinder, so that the piston canmove in opposite directions.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an operatingpiston for the contact carrier which is movable only in one directionfrom the normal position and means for permitting movement of thecontact carrier in the opposite direction without moving the piston, sothat the piston cylinder need only be of sufiicient length to providefor the projection of the contact carrier.

Various other objects and advantages will appear in the following moredetailed description oi the invention:

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a sectional view of a pair ofcounterpart electric train. line couplings shown in the coupled positionand embodying my invention, the coupling section being taken on the lineaa of Fig. 6; Fig. 2 a section on the line b-5 of Fig. 6, showing thecoupling in normal release position; Fig. 3 a partial transverse sectionof the coupling on the the casing is a contact carrier 4 having vided inthe line 0-0 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a detail face view of theshutter; Fig. 5a detail horizontal section of the tion on the line d-d of Fig. 2; andFig. 7 an inverted plan view of the movable contact carrier.

As shown in the drawings, the electric train line coupling having acover plate 2, and containing a plurality of horizontally arranged fixedcontacts 3 connected to corresponding train line circuits. i

Mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in electrically connected contactbars 5 and 6 adapted upon projection of the contact carrier to connectthe fixed contacts 3 of counterpart couplings and thereby close therespective train line circuits between the cars.

The carrier 4 is supported in position by means of guide lugs 7 attachedto the c'ar rier and adapted to ride-on guides 8 procasing. Thecarrier'is also provided at each side near the rear end with anaperturecl lug 9, through which a guide rod 10 extends, and a coilspring 11 is mounted on each rod between the lug and the front end ofthe casing for resisting the projection of the contact carrier.

In order to project the contact carrier into a counterpart couplinghead, a cylinder 12 is arranged at the rear end of the casing 1 andcontains a trunk piston 13.-

lVithin the piston 13 is another piston 14 having an outwardlyprojecting pushrod 15 adapted to engage a downwardly projecting lug 16,forming part of the contact carrier 4i.

The push rod '15 is hollow and is mounted on a projecting stem 17 of thepiston 13. A coii spring 18 is mounted within the push rod 15 and thestem 17 and opposes movement of the piston 14 toward the piston 13.Normally, the piston 14: is maintained in the outward position by thespring 18 and is adapted to seat on a gasket 19 carried by an inwardlyextending annular flange 20 of the piston 13. A pipe 21 opens into thecylinder 12 at the face of piston 13 and is connected to a suitable cock34 adapted to supply and release fluid under pressure to and from thepiston 13.

For the purpose of mechanically locking the contact carrier 4 in theprojected position a trigger device may be provided which may comprise acasing 1' is pivotally mounted within the casing 1 and comprises a pawllever 22 and an operating finger 23. v

The pawl lever 22- is arranged to swing so that'the outer end engagesback of a lug 24 on the contact carrier 4 when said carrier 1 is in'jitsprojected position.

The operating finger upward and valve27 which is adapted to seat on thepiston 26 and controls a port through said p ston, the valve tending tonormally seat through the action of a coil spring '28. Fluid foractuating the piston 26 is supplied to the chamber 29 at the face of thepiston through a passage 30 communicating with pipe leading to cook 34,and in order to actuate both pistons when either one of the adjacentcontroller cocks is operated, said passage leads to a tappet 31 at themeeting end of the coupling.

Said tappet is adapted to reciprocate in a chamber 32 and is positionedso that the outer end will engage a corresponding tappet of acounterpart coupling'when the couplings meet, the tappet having anaperture 33 adapted to register with acorresponding aperture of thecounterpart coupling the contact carrier 1s normally in the positionshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, when not coupled, and ifit'is desiredto couple with a counterpart coupling, brought together so that theheads In operation,

faces of the counterpart coupling meet. The valve 36 of either one ofthe controlling coclrs 34 on the adjacent ends of the cars is thenturned so that cavity 37 connects a fluid pressure supply pipe 38 withpipe 21. Fluid under pressure is thereupon supplied to the face ofpiston 13 of one of the counterpart couplings, and said piston isshifted outwardly, carrying with it the piston 14, sincefiuid equalizesinto the in termediate chamber 39 through ports 40 and serves with thespring 18 to maintain pis-' tom 13 and 14 in the initial relativeposition.

The push rod 15 consequently acts onthe lug 16 of the contact carrier 4and operates to project terpart coupling, so that the connected contactbars 5 and 6 of the carrier electrically connect the fixed'contaots 3 ofthe counterpart couplings "and thus close the corresponding train linecircuits.

The contact carrier of the counterpart coliplin is retracted by themovement of the; pro ected carrier,- as shown in Fig 1 of the drawings,vand tlie'projeoted carrier 1s 23 extends vertically thereupon admittedto the contact carrier into the counlocked in the projected position bythe en gagement of the trigger lever 22 with the lug 24 of the contactcarrier.

After coupling, the controlling valve 36 is turned back to normalposition, in which ports 41 and 42 connect the pipe 21 with an exhaustport 43, so that the cylinder 12 is vented to the atmosphere.

Upon retraction of one contact carrier by the projection of the othercarrier, the push rod 15 is moved rearwardly with piston 14,

compressing the spring 18, while the piston 13 remains stationary in itsnormal position.

If it is desired to release the couplings, the cook or valve 36 isturned to the position in which cavity 37 connects supply pipe 38 withpipe 35. Fluid under pressure is piston 26, and since passage 30communicates through the engaging tappets 31 with passage 30 of thecounterpart coupling, fluid is admitted to the piston 26 of each of theconnected couplings, and on the coupling which has the contact carrierprojected, the movement of piston 26 operates the finger 23 to trip thelever 22 and thereby permit the contact carrier 4 to return to normalposition, through the action of the side springs 11 on the couplinghaving the projected carrier and the spring 18 on the coupling havingthe retracted carrier.

As in my application Serial No. 823970, filed March 11,1914, means maybe provided for releasing the car coupler look upon movement of thecontact carrier to normal position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.For this purpose, a pipe 44 is connected to chamber 45 at the springside of piston 26 andleads to the release piston 46, which controls therelease movement of the coupler locks 47 During the limited movement ofthe piston, 26, under the action of the fluid pressure, the valve, 27,remains seated by the force of the spring, 28, but the valve, 27, isadapted to have a further movement independently of the piston. Uponmovement of the contact carrier to normal position, a hump 48 on thelever 22 engages lug 24 on the contact carrier, thereby depressing 23 isrocked seat. Fluid under to lift the valve 27 from its pressure is thenadmitthe lever 22 so that the finger ted to chamber 45 and flows throughpipe 44 I transversely mounted in" the casing so as to bear against thelow erface of the carrier erably of rubber, is applied. Springs 52 act aon the under side of the shutter 49 and tend to press the same intoengagement with the contact carrier.

The projections 50 are adapted to ride on the under face of the contactcarrier so as to prevent contact between the carrier and the rubberinsert when the carrier is operated, but when the contact carrier is innormal uncoupled position, said projections drop into recesses 53 in thecontact carrier, thus permitting the rubber insert 51 to bear againstthe carrier and thereby prevent dirt and moisture from entering thecoupling.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a contactcarrier movable in opposite directions from an intermediate normalposition, of fluid pressure operated means for moving the carrier in onedirection from said position, said means having a yielding connectionadapted to permit movement of the carrier in the opposite direction fromsaid intermediate position.

2. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a contactcarrier movable in opposite directions from an intermediate normalposition, of a piston for moving said carrier in one direction from saidposition, said piston having a collapsible connection with the carrierfor permitting movement of the contact carrier in the opposite directionfrom said intermediate position.

3. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a contactcarrier movable in opposite directions from an intermediate normalposition, of a piston operated by fluid under pressure for moving thecontact carrier in one direction from said position, said piston havinga collapsible connection with the carrier to permit movement of thecontact carrier in the opposite direction from said intermediateposition, and a spring for opposing said movement.

4. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a casingcontaining a plurality of fixed contacts connected to train linecircuits, a contact carrier movable in opposite directions from anintermediate normal position and having contacts to electrically connectthe corresponding fixed contacts of counterpart couplings, of a pistonoperated by fluid pressure for projecting said carrieragainst thecarrier of the counterpart coupler, said piston having a yieldingconnection with the carrier. I

5. In an electric train line coupling, the

combination with a contact carrier movable in opposite directions from anormal posi tion, of a piston operated by fluid under pressure formoving the carrier in one direction and a second piston interposedbetween the operating piston and the carrier and movable with theoperating piston in one direction and having a movement relative to theoperating piston in the opposite direction.

6. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a contactcarrier movable in opposite directions from a normal position, of a mainpiston having a piston chamber and operated by fluid pressure for movingthe contact carrier in one direction, a second piston contained in saidpiston chamber for operatively connecting the main piston with thecontact carrier, and a spring interposed between said pistons.

7. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a casinghaving an opening and-a movable contact carrier adapted to be projectedthrough said opening, of a vertically sliding shutter adapted to engagesaid carrier for protecting said opening when the carrier is withdrawn,and projections for holdingthe edge of the shutter out of contact withthe carrier during its movement.

8. In an electric train line coupling the combination with a casinghaving an opening and a movable contact carrier adapted to be projectedthrough said opening, of a vertically sliding shutter for protecting thesaid opening when the carrier is withdrawn, yielding means formaintaining contact between the carrier and the shutter, and means forholding the edge of the shutter out of contact with the carrier duringits movement.

9. In an electric train line coupling, the

combination with a casing having an opening and a movable contactcarrier adapted to be projected through said opening, of a transverseroller mounted in a cavity in the casing and bearing on one face of thecontact carrier, for protecting said opening when the carrier iswithdrawn.

10. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a casinghaving an opening and a movable contact carrier adapted to be projectedthrough said opening, of a roller adapted to bear on one face of thecontact carrier, and a vertically sliding shutter for engaging theopposite face of the contact carrier for protecting said opening againstentrance of dirt and moisture when the carrier is withdrawn. p

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS R. BROWN. In presence of- 1 S. W. R, BARBARA Hunnnr.

